WO2004021966A1 - Element de controle de l'ecoulement dote de trous d'epingle pour recipient de boisson inversable - Google Patents

Element de controle de l'ecoulement dote de trous d'epingle pour recipient de boisson inversable Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2004021966A1
WO2004021966A1 PCT/US2003/028645 US0328645W WO2004021966A1 WO 2004021966 A1 WO2004021966 A1 WO 2004021966A1 US 0328645 W US0328645 W US 0328645W WO 2004021966 A1 WO2004021966 A1 WO 2004021966A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
membrane
flow control
control element
spill
cylindrical wall
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2003/028645
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
James W. Holley, Jr.
Original Assignee
Insta-Mix, Inc., Subsidiary A (Dba Umix, Inc.)
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Insta-Mix, Inc., Subsidiary A (Dba Umix, Inc.) filed Critical Insta-Mix, Inc., Subsidiary A (Dba Umix, Inc.)
Priority to AU2003267151A priority Critical patent/AU2003267151A1/en
Publication of WO2004021966A1 publication Critical patent/WO2004021966A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47G—HOUSEHOLD OR TABLE EQUIPMENT
    • A47G19/00—Table service
    • A47G19/22—Drinking vessels or saucers used for table service
    • A47G19/2205—Drinking glasses or vessels
    • A47G19/2266—Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids
    • A47G19/2272—Means for facilitating drinking, e.g. for infants or invalids from drinking glasses or cups comprising lids or covers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
    • A45F—TRAVELLING OR CAMP EQUIPMENT: SACKS OR PACKS CARRIED ON THE BODY
    • A45F3/00—Travelling or camp articles; Sacks or packs carried on the body
    • A45F3/16—Water-bottles; Mess-tins; Cups

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to fluid containers, and more particularly to spill -resistant beverage containers.
  • Spill-resistant containers are widely used for storing liquids in situations where the liquid may spill from an open-top cup.
  • travel mugs have lids or caps that resist accidental spillage of liquid that slosh due to rough road conditions.
  • a drinking hole is provided in the lids or caps through which liquids (e.g., coffee) may be sipped by a person traveling in an automobile, and an air inlet hole is provided that admits air to replace the volume of beverage sipped from the travel mug.
  • Sports bottles are another type of spill- resistant container that typically includes a screw-on lid having a built-in straw, and a cap for sealing the end of the straw.
  • Sippy cups are a third type of spill-resistant container typically made for children.
  • Sippy cups include a cup body and a screw-on or snap-on lid having a drinking spout molded thereon.
  • An elastomeric flow control element such as a soft rubber or silicone outlet valve, is provided in some sippy cups to control the flow of liquid through the drinking spout.
  • Such flow control elements typically include a sheet of the elastomeric material located between the inner cup chamber and the drinking spout that defines one or more slits formed in an X or Y pattern.
  • the lid often also includes an air inlet port (vent) formed to admit air into the cup body to replace the volume of liquid sipped or sucked through the drinking spout, and a rubber or spring-loaded self- sealing air inlet control valve is sometimes provided to prevent spillage through the air inlet.
  • vent air inlet port
  • a problem with conventional sippy cups that utilize elastomeric flow control elements is that the elastomeric material in the region of the slits can fatigue and/or become obstructed over time, and the resulting loss of resilience can cause leakage when the slit flaps fail to fully close after use.
  • This failure of the slit flaps to close can be caused by any of several mechanisms, or a combination thereof.
  • repeated shearing forces exerted at the end of each slit due to repeated use can cause tearing of the elastomeric material in this region, thereby reducing the resilient forces needed to close the slit flaps after use.
  • the present invention is directed to a spill resistant container (e.g., a sippy cup, travel mug, or sports bottle) including a flow control element including a membrane defining multiple pinholes, instead of conventional slits, for controlling the flow of liquid through a drinking spout.
  • a spill resistant container e.g., a sippy cup, travel mug, or sports bottle
  • a flow control element including a membrane defining multiple pinholes, instead of conventional slits, for controlling the flow of liquid through a drinking spout.
  • the membrane is formed at one end of a cylindrical wall formed such that the flow control element can be mounted on a corresponding cylindrical mounting structure formed on a cover that screws onto a cup-shaped body.
  • the cylindrical wall is mounted over the mounting structure and a relatively large diameter membrane is positioned at an end of the mounting structure away from the drinking spout, which is formed on the cap.
  • the cylindrical wall of the flow control element is pushed into the mounting structure such that a relatively small diameter membrane is located adjacent to the drinking spout.
  • the membrane is positioned between liquid stored in the cup-shaped body and the drinking spout.
  • the flow control element is formed from a suitable elastomeric material (e.g., soft rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or silicone) such that the membrane stretches when subjected to a differential pressure (e.g., as a result of a child sucking on the drinking spout) .
  • the pinholes are formed by puncturing the membrane using one or more pins having a substantially circular cross-section and formed with the membrane in radial tension such that each pinhole is closed by the surrounding elastomeric material when the pins are removed and the tension is relieved. Accordingly, under normal atmospheric conditions (i.e., when the cup is not in use) , the pinholes remain closed, thereby preventing leakage of liquid from the cup through the membrane. During subsequent use, the applied pressure differential causes the membrane to stretch, thereby opening the pinholes and allowing liquid to pass through the membrane and through the drinking spout . Upon removal of the differential pressure, the membrane returns to its original (e.g., planar) shape, and the pinholes are again closed. Because the pinholes are substantially circular (i.e., do not include slits that can fatigue or trap deposits) , the pinholes facilitate reliable leakage prevention over a longer period than that possible using conventional, slit-based flow control elements .
  • Fig. 1 is a side view showing a sippy cup according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a plan view showing a flow control element utilized in the sippy cup of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional side view taken along section line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
  • Figs. 4(A) and 4(B) are simplified enlarged cross-sectional views showing the opening of a pinhole formed in the flow control element of Fig. 2 during operation;
  • Fig. 5 is a side view showing a sippy cup according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a flow control element utilized in the sippy cup of Fig. 5; and [0015] Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional side view taken along section line 7-7 of Fig. 6.
  • Fig. 1 is a side view showing a sippy cup 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Sippy cup 100 generally includes a hollow cup-shaped body
  • Body 110 includes a roughly cylindrical sidewall 111 having a threaded upper edge 113, and a bottom wall 115 located at a lower edge of sidewall 111.
  • Body 110 has a height of approximately 4 inches and a diameter of approximately 3 inches.
  • Cap 140 includes a base portion 142 having threaded inside surface that mates with threaded upper edge 113 to connect cap 140 to body 110, thereby enclosing storage chamber 117.
  • Cap 140 also includes a drinking spout 145 defining an outlet passage 146.
  • a cylindrical mounting structure 147 Provided at a lower end of drinking spout 145 is a cylindrical mounting structure 147 to which flow control element 150 is press fitted. Cylindrical mounting structure 147 forms a channel through which liquid passes from storage chamber 117 to outlet passage 146.
  • cylindrical mounting structure 147 has an inner diameter of approximately 0.6 inches and an outer diameter of approximately 0.7 inches .
  • flow control element 150 is formed from a suitable elastomeric material (e.g., soft rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or silicone), and includes several peripheral pull-tabs 152, a cylindrical wall 154 extending away from pull -tabs 152, and a membrane 155 extending across one end of cylindrical wall 154.
  • Pull-taps 152 are formed by a flat, relatively thick section of the elastomeric material, and provide convenient handles for removing flow control element 150 from cap 140.
  • flow control element 150 is molded using silicone
  • pull-tabs 152 have a thickness Tl of approximately 0.08 inches
  • cylindrical wall 154 has an inner diameter D of approximately 0.7 inches and a thickness T2 of approximately 0.06 inches
  • membrane 155 is relatively thin, and in the disclosed embodiment is located in the plane defined by pull-tabs 152.
  • flow control element 150 is molded using silicone
  • pull-tabs 152 have a thickness Tl of approximately 0.08 inches
  • cylindrical wall 154 has an inner diameter D of approximately 0.7 inches and a thickness T2 of approximately 0.06 inches
  • 155 has a thickness of approximately 0.02 inches.
  • each pinhole 157 is formed by piercing membrane 155 with a pin 400, or other sharp pointed object, such that the pinhole is closed by the surrounding elastomeric material when pin 400 is subsequently removed.
  • membrane 155 is stretched in a radial direction by a force F that is sufficient to increase the diameter of membrane 155 in the range of 1 to 10 percent during the formation of pinholes 157.
  • each pin 410 is formed with a continuously curved
  • each pinhole 157 is substantially circular (i.e., does not have a slit or fold that would be formed by a cutting element having an edge) .
  • a pin having a diameter DIA of approximately 0.025 inches was used to produce successful pinholes in a membrane having a thickness of approximately 0.02 inches.
  • the number of pinholes 157 and membrane thickness T3 determine the amount of liquid flow through membrane 155 during use for a given pressure differential, as discussed below.
  • flow control element 150 is mounted onto cap 140 such that cylindrical wall 154 is secured to cylindrical mounting structure 147, which is integrally molded into cap 140, thereby positioning membrane 155 below drinking spout 145.
  • a liquid e.g., a beverage such as water of juice
  • cap 140 is secured onto threaded upper edge
  • membrane 155 is positioned between the liquid beverage in storage chamber 117 and outlet passage 146 of drinking spout 145. While atmospheric equilibrium is maintained (i.e., the pressure inside cup body 110 is equal to the pressure outside cap
  • membrane 155 remains in the unstretched state illustrated in Fig. 4(A), wherein pinholes 157 remain closed to prevent leakage.
  • a pressure differential is generated in which the pressure inside storage chamber 117 becomes greater than the pressure in outlet passage 146, thereby causing membrane 155 to stretch toward outlet passage 146, as indicated in Fig.
  • the number of pinholes 157 determines the amount of liquid flow through membrane 155 during use. Because each pinhole 157 only opens a small amount, the amount of liquid passing through each pinhole
  • pinholes 157 during use is quite small. Accordingly, multiple pinholes 157 are arranged in a pattern that collectively facilitate desired flow conditions. In an experiment using a silicone membrane having thickness of 0.02 inches and a diameter of approximately % inches, a pattern of fifteen spaced-apart pinholes was found to produce insufficient liquid flow during normal use, whereas a pattern of forty-nine pinholes 157 was found to produce an optimal liquid flow. Of course, the number and pattern of pinholes 157 depends on a number of factors, and the pattern shown in Fig. 2 is not intended to be limiting.
  • Fig. 5 is a side view showing a sippy cup 500 according to another embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the first embodiment discussed above, sippy cup 500 utilizes cup-shaped body 110 and cap 140, which are described above. However, sippy cup 500 utilizes an elastomeric flow control element 550 mounted on cap 140 that differs from flow control element 150 in the manner described below.
  • flow control element 550 is formed from a suitable elastomeric material (e.g., soft rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or silicone), and includes several peripheral pull-tabs 552, a cylindrical wall 554 extending away from pull-tabs 552, and a membrane 555 extending across the end of cylindrical wall 554 that is located opposite to pull- tabs 552. Similar to the first embodiment, pull -taps 552 are formed by a flat, relatively thick section of the elastomeric material.
  • a suitable elastomeric material e.g., soft rubber, thermoplastic elastomer, or silicone
  • Cylindrical wall 554 has a first end 554(1), a second end 554(2), and defines a central axis X that extends substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by pull-tabs 552, which are connected to first end 554(1) .
  • Membrane 555 is positioned to block an opening defined by second end 554(2) of cylindrical wall
  • the outer diameter Dl of cylindrical wall 554 is provided with a slight taper (as indicated in Fig. 6) to facilitate insertions into cylindrical mounting structure 147 of cap 140 (as shown in Fig. 5) , and is sized near first end 554(1) with a suitable interference such that flow control element 550 is secured (i.e., press fitted) to cap 140 when cylindrical wall 554 is pushed into mounting structure 147.
  • An annular bump 558 is also provided to help secure flow control element 550 to cap
  • membrane 555 Because the diameter Dl of cylindrical wall 554 is smaller (i.e., relative to cylindrical wall 154 of the first embodiment) to fit within cylindrical mounting structure 147, membrane 555 necessarily has a diameter D2 that is smaller (e.g., approximately one-half inch) than that of membrane 155 (discussed above) , and therefore provides less space for pinholes 557 than that provided in the first embodiment. Therefore, to facilitate a similar fluid flow with the reduced number of pinholes
  • membrane 555 has a thickness T4
  • flow control element 550 is molded using silicone, pull-tabs 552 have a thickness T5 of approximately 0.07 inches, and cylindrical wall 554 has a thickness T6 of approximately 0.09 inches adjacent to second end 544(2).
  • Pinholes 557 are formed in the essentially the same manner described above (e.g., by stretching membrane 555 such that diameter D2 is expanded from approximately 4%) .
  • flow control element 550 is mounted onto cap 140 such that cylindrical wall 554 is inserted inside cylindrical mounting structure 147, which is integrally molded into cap 140, thereby positioning membrane 555 adjacent to drinking spout 145.
  • a liquid e.g., a beverage such as water of juice
  • cap 140 is secured onto threaded upper edge 113.
  • membrane 555 is positioned between the liquid beverage in storage chamber 117 and outlet passage 146 of drinking spout 145.
  • membrane 555 otherwise operates in a manner similar to that described above to control the flow of liquid from storage chamber 117 through spout 145.
  • one or more aspects of the present invention may be incorporated into other spill -resistant containers, such as travel mugs and sport bottles. Other features and aspects may be added to these spill - resistant containers that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the invention is limited only by the following claims.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Pediatric Medicine (AREA)
  • Closures For Containers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention a trait à un récipient inversable (par ex., tasse à bec), qui comprend un élément de contrôle de l'écoulement comportant une membrane définissant de multiples trous d'épingle destinés à contrôler l'écoulement du liquide à travers un bec verseur. L'élément de contrôle de l'écoulement est monté sur un couvercle qui se visse sur un corps en forme de tasse, de façon que la membrane soit placée entre le liquide stocké dans le corps en forme de tasse et le bec verseur, lequel est formé sur le couvercle. L'élément de contrôle de l'écoulement est constitué d'une matière élastomère appropriée (par ex., caoutchouc souple, élastomère thermoplastique, ou silicone), de manière que la membrane s'étire lorsqu'elle est soumise à une pression différentielle. Les trous d'épingle sont formés par perforation de la membrane au moyen d'une ou plusieurs épingles possédant une section transversale sensiblement circulaire, et sont dimensionnés de façon que chaque trou d'épingle soit fermé par la matière élastomère environnante une fois les épingles retirées.
PCT/US2003/028645 2002-09-06 2003-08-29 Element de controle de l'ecoulement dote de trous d'epingle pour recipient de boisson inversable WO2004021966A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2003267151A AU2003267151A1 (en) 2002-09-06 2003-08-29 Flow control element with pinholes for spill-resistant beverage container

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US23645902A 2002-09-06 2002-09-06
US10/236,459 2002-09-06
US10/339,861 US6880713B2 (en) 2002-09-06 2003-01-10 Flow control element with pinholes for spill-resistant beverage container
US10/339,861 2003-01-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2004021966A1 true WO2004021966A1 (fr) 2004-03-18

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Family Applications (1)

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PCT/US2003/028645 WO2004021966A1 (fr) 2002-09-06 2003-08-29 Element de controle de l'ecoulement dote de trous d'epingle pour recipient de boisson inversable

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US6880713B2 (fr)
AU (1) AU2003267151A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2004021966A1 (fr)

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US6880713B2 (en) 2005-04-19
AU2003267151A1 (en) 2004-03-29

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